Friday, December 30, 2011

Chapter 11: Knowing each other

How difficult is it to know others? And how difficult it is to know yourself? You think you can totally understand the other person whereas you completely fail to understand youself. The more you run away from yourself, the more evident it becomes to the other person, that you are gullible.
Know thyself.

There are somethings which cannot be bought or you cannot make a deal with it. You have to just give 100% of honesty to make anything work.
***
There was somthing that kept Raji attached to Rafey. She was trying hard to figure out what that was. Was it the sudden encounter or was it the charm of the friendship which had faded with time, or was it a candid attraction between a boy and a girl.
She kept looking at Rafey, as he sipped his coffee. She did not quite like the way he held the cup. She wanted to ask him to correct it, but she chose not to.
She wanted to accept him the way he was, understand the feelings, introspect and conclude what was all the uneasiness about.
She said, " What do you prefer? Tea or Coffee?"
"Ofcourse Tea, Raji", Rafey replied.
"Why?", she asked.
"Rich people drink coffee. We are small people", Rafey replied.
"What's it about the rich and the poor. If you like coffee, you should drink coffee", she said.
"Yes, but I like tea", Rafey smiled.
"Is there a tea stall near the Gulmohar tree?", Raji wondered and asked Rafey.
"Sure there is. That's the reason why I wanted to take you there! Sit beneath the tree, sip a cutting and reminisce the good old days", Rafey said.
"So, lets go!", Raji said.
"Now? I got to go to work!", Rafey said.
"Second shift?", Raji asked.
"Yes", Rafey replied and smiled.
He kept looking at Raji and realised that the enforced arrogance was nothing but an attempt to hide her real self. She was more caring, softer and subtler as compared to what she portrayed.
"What are you looking at?", Raji asked.
"I am just trying to recollect your face as a 6 year old, and I am comparing the features!", Rafey replied pragamatically.
"Don't look so intently. You might fall in love with me", Raji mocked.
"Don't worry. I won't.", Rafey replied confidently.
"Why, are you already in love with someone else?", Raji asked.
"I don't know. But probably I'll get married to this girl called Afsha!", Rafey replied.
"Af.. sha?", Raji stammered.
"Yeah!", Rafey replied.
"Then what about us?", Raji asked.
"Who said we are getting married, Raji. We are just reviving our old friendship. I would want to share the old bond with you, love you like I did when we were kids, save you when you are in trouble and spend my birthdays with you!", Rafey replied, sounding exactly as they had fixed some time ago.
"And what if we fall in love? Won't you like to stay with me?", Raji asked.
"I don't know how to deal with your stupidity. I am sure we are not going to end up the way you are fancying. We will just become good friends again." Rafey said.
"Really?", Raji questioned.
"Absolutely. This isn't a game. We cannot play Husband-Wife, just because we couldn't play when we were kids. Grow up. It takes a lot to get married. I am a Pizza Delivery boy. You are a successful RJ. Your parents are socially renowned. There is a lot to consider", Rafey said.
"Why are you so sorted out?", Raji asked.
"If you ask me, I'd say, I really ain't! It takes a lot of guts to select the right path, despite knowing that the wrong has all the pleasures", Rafey said.
"What do you mean by pleasures?", Raji questioned with a naughty askance.
"I mean, bank balance, car, house, you see", Rafey looked up to make an eye contact with Raji.
"Ah, I see", Raji replied, disappointed by Rafey's reaction.
"What did you think?", Rafey questioned as he signalled for the cheque.
"Nothing. And yeah, allow me to pay", Raji said.
Rafey simply smiled, looked at her and said, "I earn too. Allow me."
Raji couldn't help but recollect features of Shareeq Miyaa as she looked at Rafey.
"Your face reminds me of Shareeq Miyaa", Raji said.
"I am his son!", Rafey joked, "I ought to look like him", he added.
"You have a very sharp nose and deep eyes", Raji commented.
Rafey smiled.
"You look good!", Raji said.
Rafey kept smiling.
"When do we meet again?", Raji asked, as she observed Rafey take out his wallet and pay the bill.
"Whenever you say. I felt great after meeting you, talking to you.. and.", Rafey said, losing out on words.
Raji simply smiled.
"Come over to my place for dinner. I'll cook some interesting Chicken",Rafey offered.
"I'd love to! Mom and Dad are out of town, so I can come for dinner", Raji sounded excited.
"Chachu will be so happy to see you", Rafey said.
Raji smiled.
"So 1 month it is, huh!", Rafey asked.
"Yes, I am sure with dinner meetings and coffee breaks like these, we will surely have a great time", Raji said.
"And after 1 month?", Rafey asked.
"We will see", Raji replied.

***
The meeting ended and both of them headed to their respective workplaces. The silence was broken, finally, and the attempt to revive the old friendship had taken off.
Rafey on his way to work wondered how crazy an idea would it be to give a time of 1 month to make things work. He was a kind of a person who believed that relationships develop over a period of time. No relationship can reach a peak in 1 month and with mutual consent, diminish, instantly.
Raji on her way to work thought, how could she convince Rafey that they were meant to be together for life. She wondered how could she make things work in 1 month, so that Rafey is convinced that indeed they were meant to be together.
While they tried to play with life, time and their destinies, nature conspired something else for them.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Chapter 10: The Proposal

If your heart forces you to do something, just do it. When you do something with an instinct, you never end up having regrets. What you have is only lessons.

At times, it is necessary to let go the conditioned guidance of the brain and simply let the heart take you to where it feels is right! Live by that feeling once, at least once in your life!

***

Coffee, usual, two", Raji ordered, without asking what Rafey cared to have.

"I hope that is fine", she asked Rafey.
"Sure, no problem at all", Rafey pacified himself.
"Where should we start from?", Raji started.
Rafey was sure that he wouldn't have to speak much, because Raji was taking the lead and he would just have to listen to her.
"Hmm", Rafey tried to pull the conversation forward.
"How is Mansoor Chachu?", Raji asked.
Rafey found the same innocence in her when she said "Mansoor Chachu". He recollected how she would call his father. She would yell at the top of her voice and call out "Shareeq Miyaa.. Miyaa jaan", and when Rafey's father wouldn't respond, Rafey would join in too, "Abbu.. Abba jaan"...
He gave a faint smile and replied, "Chachu is good. He is amazing!"
"Amazing? What kinda reply is that?” Raji asked.
"Nothing. I just meant that without him I would have been nothing!", Rafey added.
"What did you do all these years, Rafey? Where did you stay, where did you study, what did you do, who are your friends, how did you celebrate your birthday?” Raji shot all questions in one go.
Rafey simply smiled. He started replying, "I have been here since the time Abbu died. We went to Allahabad for some time, but Chachu brought me back here.'
"Hmm", Raji said, as she took a profound sip of coffee.
"I studied at the Model Boys school and completed my Graduation from Anjuman", he added.
"Right here, near the station?” Raji asked.
"Yes. That's right!", Rafey replied.
"And friends?” Raji asked.
"I do not have very close friends as such. Chachu is actually enough for me. I do have a few friends who stay in the neighbourhood, but none as close as... I mean, none are that close!” Rafey said.
"As close as? Us?” Raji asked.
"Raji, we were 6 when we got separated. What was the definition of friendship then? We have grown to be two independent individuals, with nothing in common!” Rafey said, trying to prove a point.
Raji simply looked at him and said, "Our birthdays, our initials, our place of birth?"
"And destinies?” Rafey questioned.
"We are nobody to decide about that. Let's make one from now on", Raji said bluntly.
"What do you mean?” Rafey asked.
"I never knew what I missed until the day I met you", Raji said.
"I don't get you!",Rafey sounded perplexed.
"I think I can be happy, be like a child, and be totally myself only with you. Let's begin again, please", Raji sounded as expressive as possible.
"Raji, sure, we can give it a try, but do you know what it can lead to?", Rafey asked.
"What would it lead to? I would be assured that I love you, and then we could get married!", Raji said.
Rafey gave a diminishing laugh.
"Why, what makes you laugh? Don't you feel the same way? Didn't nostalgia grip you when you saw me? Didn't you feel like living life the way we did 16-17 years back?", Raji questioned.
"It was different then, and now...”, Rafey said.
"What's so different? It's you, me, our friendship, our love and the same old life!", Raji sounded baseless.
"Don't you have a boyfriend, yet. You are so beautiful.", Rafey asked.
"I did. But I did not fall in love with any of them. And the day I saw you, I realised I've got all that I could ever want!", Raji said.
"Raji, you are going too fast. We've just met. After 18 good years. We are two strangers. Completely different people. Our bringing up must have changed so much. For example, you don't like the shades of Gulmohar anymore, you like the AC of Barista!", Rafey said.
Raji sat there silently, pondering over what Rafey just said. She agreed, but she wanted to be with him desperately, and revive their old friendship.
"Ok, Lets be friends. Let's get to know each other", Raji said.
"And what would be the result?", Rafey asked.
"Nothing", Raji said thoughtfully. She added, "Let's give this one month. Let's give our friendship 1 month, for the old times' sake", Raji proposed.
"And then..", Rafey asked.
"And if we realize that we are indeed two different people who have changed over the period of time, then we can just be acquaintances and make sure that we'd be cordial if our paths crossed", Raji suggested.
"I don't believe you turned out to be such an idiot", Rafey said.
"Mind your language!” Raji hit him.
They both laughed, in agreement, as Rafey gave a nod to the most stupid proposal ever.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Chapter 9: Re-Encounter

It takes a lot of courage to accept your own weaknesses, face your own demons, and deal with something you’ve been running away from. Once we decide to face it, and deal with it, a lot of guilt and pressure within subsides. A lighter heart, then holds nothing but love.
***
“We have our next caller online, friends”, RJ said, as she checked her system for the name and details of the caller who was put on hold until RJ took it forward.
She saw her system read “RAFEY”. She sensed her heart pump faster. She couldn’t believe that he had indeed called her up.  A beep brought her back to her senses and made her immediately take the call.
She had mixed feelings, and she was completely clueless how to begin.
“Hello..Rrraafey”, she mustered courage to take out the name aloud.
“Hello..”, the other party said.
“So, Rafey… huh…nice name”, RJ tried to form sentences.
“Yeah.. thanks”, Rafey sounded casual.
“Where are you calling from?”, RJ asked.
“I am calling from Station road”, Rafey said.
“So.. “, RJ found it difficult to ask further questions as her mind went completely blank.
“I heard you talk about dreams, and the Gulmohar tree”, Rafey spoke realizing that RJ wasn’t responding.
“Yeah..”, RJ recollected the theme of her show and caught the link, “So Rafey, tell me, have you seen a Gulmohar tree?”, RJ desperately waited for an answer.
“Yess.. Gulmohar tree and I are like relatives, close and bonded. I love the shade under its branches. It takes care of me. I have always loved to climb up to the biggest branch and spend time staring at the busy road”, Rafey said, sounding dreamy.
“And..”, RJ appened, starting to get emotional.
“All my childhood, I had this one tree who was a parent to me. It served as a replacement of my best friend, later, who I don’t know went where”, Rafey said, hitting the right chord.
“I see”, RJ replied.
“And now when I heard you this morning talk about a Gulmohar tree, I thought I should call you and share my happiest place with you”, Rafey said.
“Hmmm”, RJ responded wanting to listen further.
“Would you like to come with me to my happiest place, RJ…RJ?”, Rafey asked, struggling to use the name RJ instead of Raji.
RJ felt euphoric. “Sure. I would love to”, she said, and professionally continued, “and while I find Rafey’s happiest place and share my nostalgia with him, y’all listen to Rafey’s favorite track, Right here waiting for you, by Richard Marx”, RJ finished reading the details on her system and wondered why did Rafey mention this particular song.
Offline, she continued talking to Rafey, as the song played in the background, “Rafey, where do you want me to come?” she asked uncomfortably.
“You come to the left entrance of the Railway Station. I shall pick you up”, Rafey said, sounding straightforward.
“Do you know me? How will you recognize me?”, RJ asked a vague question.
“Raji, just meet me at the left entrance, ok?”, Rafey sounded comforting and dominating at the same time.
Raji gave in and replied, “Right after my show, at 11.30?”
“Yes.”, Rafey said, “See you”, he added and hung the phone.
***
“Chachu, what was I like, as a child? Was I too troublesome?”, Rafey asked Mansoor.
“Don’t even get me started on that you Dumb fellow. You were not even half as mischievous as your Chacha jaan. You defamed me”, Mansoor said.
“So was I docile? Was Raji naughty? Did I get beaten up by her? Did she pull my leg? Was I too innocent?”, Rafey asked.
“I get where you are going!”, Mansoor replied, staring at Rafey.
“Chachu, I called her up. I am seeing her in an hour”, he said.
“Yeah Yeah, I can see that. So why these questions, all of a sudden?”, Mansoor sounded a bit serious.
“I don’t remember what I was like a child. I do remember the games we played together, how we celebrated our birthdays, how aunty fed both of us together, how Raji saved me from unjustifiable tasks that aunty gave me. But I don’t remember whether we fought, whether she bullied me, or I bullied her, I only remember her as my first and only friend I ever had”, Rafey went on.
“You know how much you just spoke?”, Mansoor asked, him.
Rafey smiled. “Chachu!”, he simply sighed.
“No other kid would have been as wonderful as you were, and as sweet as Raji was. I don’t know what she grew up to become. But all I can say is, what existed then, if it exists now, then it’ll be really really wrong”, Mansoor hinted.
“I get you Chachu”, Rafey smiled and felt at peace because he heard what he really wanted to hear.
He got ready for work as he decided to reach the Pizza outlet right after meeting Raji.
***
Rafey waited at the left entrance of the station, on his bike, as he scanned every face that passed by him.
While he was busy scanning faces, he felt a pat on his back.
“Rafey”, she called out.
Rafey turned back and saw Raji. She wore sleeveless khadi kurta over jeans. The aviator sunglasses hid her expressive eyes. Her waist held her stance as well as a funky mobile phone.
“Raji!”, Rafey exclaimed.
The both stood there speechless exchanges glances, and intermittently looking around.
Raji pointed out to her car and asked, “You want to park your bike and come with me in the car?”
“Is it okay if we go on the bike?”, Rafey asked.
“Not really, but I need to park the car somewhere, that may be a problem”, she said.
“Ok, let me park my bike then. The gulmohar tree is not really far”, Rafey said, smiling at her and finding a common topic to break the ice.

Raji smiled and observed Rafey intently. After parking his bike, Rafey tossed the keys in the air and found himself in a comfort zone. Raji smiled at him and thought, that now she can finally fit in the missing pieces of the puzzle.

***

"Can you drive a four wheeler?", Raji asked, as she got into the car and signalled Rafey to get into.

"Yes. I am a driver's son, Madam. I can very well drive a car", Rafey joked, not realising that he was slowly turning back the pages of his life.

Raji looked at him and gave him a sad smile.

"I am sorry Rafey. Shareeq Miyaa was a wonderful person!", she said, as she drove past the railway station.

Rafey smiled. He looked straight ahead, out of the glass and gauged the traffic.

"The road isn't busy. We can take a right from here", Rafey said, changing the topic and guiding Raji to the Gulmohar tree.

"Do you know what month this is?", Raji asked, sounding sardonic.

"Yeah, March!", Rafey said.

"Do you know the time?", Raji asked again, with a hint of smile.

"It's close to noon?", Rafey replied.

"Do you know what season is it?", Raji further asked.

"Summer!", Rafey sighed, guessing where the conversation was going.

"Do you care to have a cold coffee at Barista, rather than going to the park right now?", Raji proposed.

Rafey turned his head and looked out of the window. He thought, that indeed a lot of things had changed. He was ecstatic about meeting Raji and talking to her under his favorite place, but she desired something else.

Rafey realised, that people who work in Air Conditioned atmosphere, seldom feel the heat of the soul.

He simply, nodded and exclaimed, "As you like it, Ma'am", just the way he talked to his Pizza Customers.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Chapter 8: Nostalgia

If something doesn’t go your way do you get grouchy and sad? It’s very difficult to accept what is not in our favor and move on with the fact that “Our Time will come”. Instead of accepting things, the way they are and positively changing them, we tend to react instead of responding.
One, who learns the art of responding to situations, is someone who knows the art of keeping himself/herself happy all the while.
***
RJ was in a bad mood. She hated lies. She also wondered what had gotten into Rafey that he hid his identity. She wanted to hit him hard and ask him the reason why wasn’t he truthful.
Retrospectively, she realized, why was he actually hiding his identity. She thought, whether the Pizza delivery boys were asked to use different names, or was he trying to use his father’s name as a good luck?
She wondered whether Rafey knew about her, and he was worried of his mediocre job and status. What was it that made him lie, RJ wondered, but she did not get any answer.
Her show began the next morning and she decided to drop hints to Rafey, considering he would listen to Radio every morning.
“Good morning junta.. How have y’all been? Yesterday, I saw a dream. A very distinct old dream. I wonder why it didn’t occur all these years. I used to see it when I was, say 5. I used to talk about it to my friend, my best friend then, because what I said wouldn’t make sense to Mom”, RJ reminisced.
“There was this huge Gulmohar tree in the park near my house, in Meerut. I would climb up the branches that hung low. My friend would climb up higher, and shake the branches. The beautiful orange flowers would fall on me and I in turn would try my best to shake the branches near me, but nothing happened”, RJ went on.
“I saw the same dream last night. It’s been a while I’ve spotted a Gulmohar tree around the city. Do you know one?”, RJ asked the listeners.
“If you know any Gulmohar tree around your place, call me and let me know. I am giving another chance to myself to my dream. You do it too. So, talk to me and tell me what’s your dream?”, RJ asked.
“Let’s talk about dreams today.. Send me an SMS on 22 22 22 with your name, and I will call you back”, RJ pepped up the city.
“Until then, listen to this wonderful song ‘I have a dream, a song to sing’”… RJ said, and hung the mic.
GK entered her cabin and signaled whether the mic was on mute. RJ affirmed and talked out loud, “Yes, GK, come on in”
“What’s with you, girl. You are making the junta think early morning. Dreams and all..huh?”, GK smiled.
“Yes GK, there are so many meaningful English songs, which can indeed be correlated with so many topics. These songs give me a reason to talk on such subjects. What do you think, am I going good?”, RJ asked.
“Of course. You are doing amazingly well. We don’t have anyone as good as you. We all know what amazing song collection you have, you are well read, you can empathize and reach out to people’s heart”, GK said.
“And RJ, you can play songs on any occasion, Dammit”, Dexter came in.
“Thanks Dex. You know I am a Rockstar”, RJ did a little guitar thingy and boasted her image.
GK smiled, as he realized that the two would now start a useless argument.
***
Rafey smiled as he heard RJ finish her update and play the song. He realized that RJ knew that he was Rafey. He had been listening to the radio since the day he found out that Raji was RJ RJ. He did not appreciate English Music, but he loved listening to what Raji spoke.
He would have further inputs, which he imagined he would share with her once they got talking.
He wondered whether he should send an SMS or not. He thought he knew one Gulmohar tree, and if Raji was so nostalgic, he could help her find one near her place. Rafey wondered how he could now confront Raji, and accept all that was left unsaid all this while.
Rafey’s candid thought process was broken, as he realized that RJ had shut her door on his face last night. He found himself in a quandary as tried to gauge the situation.
Mansoor saw him standing and staring into the oblivion. He interrupted, “Rafey Miyaa, you want me to feed you all your life or what? Have you left your job, or the rascals have thrown you out for your innocence?”
“Chachu, I have a second shift today?”, Rafey said.
“So you are starting to find reasons to stay out during the night, huh. Don’t I know what 22 year old boys want, you Dog”, Mansoor teased him.
“Chacha jaan. You know I am not like that”, Rafey defended himself, smiling and realizing that Mansoor was pulling his leg.
They both stood side by side, looking at the morning sun. Rafey began, “Chachu, I met Raji again”
“I see. So did she recognize you?”, Mansoor asked carelessly.
“I thought she hadn’t. So I hid my identity when she asked me my name. She only read Abba’s name on my badge and thought my name is Shareeq”, Rafey said.
“Ok.. So?”,Mansoor sounded confused.
“She actually knows that I am Rafey. And she asked me my name yesterday, so I lied and told her it was Shareeq”, Rafey said.
“I still don’t get you!”, Mansoor said.
“Listen to the radio, Chachu”, Rafey said.
***
After a series of advertisements, RJ spoke again.
“The first caller for the day is Isha. Hi Isha, where are you calling from?”, RJ sounded disappointed, as she expected a male voice to respond.
“Hi RJ RJ. I am calling from Market Yard. I am such a big fan of yours!”, the listener sighed.
“Ok, Isha, so tell me, do you know any Gulmohar tree around your place?”, RJ asked.
“I don’t know what it looks like. But there is a building called Gulmohar apartments, and there is huge tree there with orange flowers”, Isha said.
“Oh, then that might just be a real Gulmohar tree then. So what is your dream Isha”, RJ asked.
“I want to go to Ooty once, and stay at my Grandma’s house, which is now abandoned. I want to revive it”, Isha said.
“What a wonderful dream. I wish you all the best and pray that your dream gets fulfilled soon”, RJ said and hung the call.
She continued, “You may ask, what is so special about the Gulmohar tree. Why am I talking about it so much? Have you ever tried to eat your lunch under that tree, rather under any tree, watch the sun set and feel the shade of the tree cover your head? Have you ever hugged a Gulmohar tree trunk? It’s all beautiful and nostalgic”, RJ said and pondered for a while.
“Ok, so Let’s listen to Isha’s request on Angrezi hits – One love”, RJ concluded.
***
Rafey looked at Mansoor, and Mansoor looked back at him.
He said, “The girl is desperate and mad both. You should make her feel better”, Mansoor said and patted Rafey’s back.
Rafey picked up his cell phone and sent an sms saying “RAFEY” to 22 22 22.

…to be contd..

Friday, December 02, 2011

Chapter 7: To be or not to be

There are so many people who express subtle emotions in an uncultivated way, hurting the other person, whereas it is supposed to be expressed to convey a beautiful thought or feeling. The intention behind the expression is not piercing. It is soothing, as much as a confession of love.
But when one learns the subtle art of expressing, one wins all hearts!
***
The next morning was a quick run through for RJ. She went to the office, played songs back to back, incorporating a few advertisements and wrapped up her shift. She was home by noon.
She was wondering whether she should call for pizza and try and see Rafey one more time. She thought what would she do when they would be face to face. She was trying to frame instances and how the situation might be. How he would react and what would she say.
It was all going in her mind. Finally she mustered the courage to call the Pizza outlet.
“Hello.. this is Rajshri Ahuja from MEGA”, she started, emphasizing on her name, so that the person talking to her recognizes her demand that only Rafey should be sent to deliver the Pizza.
“Yes Maam, your order please”, Manjeet asked.
RJ gave her order quickly and hung the phone.  She rushed into change into something nice and attractive. She had already assumed that Rafey would bring the order for her. She did not consider the possibility of some other delivery boy carrying the order.
RJ went and stood in front of her wardrobe seleting which dress to wear. She wore a sleeveless khaadi top over shorts. She thought, it revealed too much. She changed into denims and again observed herself. She changed a few tops, slipped into a few more kurtis to see how she looked, finally she settled for a salwar kameez.
The last time they met, she was wearing a skimpy top over a jeans, and thought, that she should present the more traditional side of her, because Rafey probably wasn’t that modern.
She stood in front of the mirror and said, “Rafey, Remember me. I am RJ. I mean Raji. Rajshri Ahuja”
“Dammit, what’s with my name. Rajshri!! Ewww! I hate it so much!”, she said to herself.
“Rafey, Shareeq miya’s son, Rafey. I am Raji. Your childhood friend!! Remember?”, Raji tried again, stared at the mirror and said to herself, “No no.. It isn’t working”
“Rafey Shareeq. Did your father by chance work with the Ahuja family?”, Raji realized she was being stupid by mentioning Shareeq’s name. Rafey might feel bad and sad both.
She simply stood and looked at herself in the mirror.
Something in her mind asked her something, to which she answered, “No no.. In Love with..Rafey?? No!”, she went closer to mirror and closely observed her eyes.
“It’s Rafey, RJ. Rafey”, she said to herself, and kept staring at herself.
***
“Rafey, here’s the order to flat number 1705, MEGA”, Shekhar passed on the order to him.
“What, just garlic sticks and Choco lava cake?”, Rafey asked.
“Yeaah! Crazy customer”, Shekhar said.
“Was it a kid or what?” Rafey giggled, as he lifted the small order and headed towards the exit.
“Almost a kid, dude”, Shekhar said, as he picked up the phone to take the next order.
Rafey saw his watch. The order was ready in 2 minutes. MEGA was barely at a 10 minutes distance. He had a lot of time to make it to the destination.
He nevertheless decided to speed up and deliver, lest he lose his day’s pay again. So he kick started his bike, adjusted his cap which read DOMINO’s and set his way towards MEGA.
He was expecting an order from the GK’s office, but there wasn’t any. He wondered, whether there wasn’t any order, really, or did Shekhar avoid sending him to GK’s office on purpose. He decided to leave the negativity behind. He thought about Raji. He speculated, how rarely, or how frequently did they order Pizza at GK’s.
Rafey reached the MEGA complex. No sooner he parked his bike, than he called the customer.
***
RJ was staring into the mirror and looking at herself, when her cellphone rang. Startled, she picked up the phone and said, “Hello”
“Hello Madam, I am calling from Domino’s pizza. I have reached MEGA. Are you present at 1705?”, Rafey asked all of this in one go.
“Yes. Please use the fifth lift and come over to the 17th Floor”, RJ said, a bit hurriedly.
She tied her hair, wore her specs and immediately rushed to the living room, desperately waiting for Rafey to come.
Rafey got into the lift and wondered what the deal with the 17th Floor was. He smiled to himself. He saw his watch; he was 5 minutes before time. He smiled again.
The lift door opened and he looked around to spot 1705.
On his right, he saw a deep Red door with “Deepak and Sheela Ahuja” written on it. He checked the address again. It was exactly the same address. Flat number 1705 – Deepak and Sheela Ahuja.
He paused right there. With all courage, he rang the door bell, fearing that the time in his hand may pass and he may have to deliver the order free.
RJ opened the Door.
Rafey looked at her. He kept staring at her for sometime, and immediately took away his glance.
“Madam here’s the order”, Rafey sounded professional.
Raji observed him take out the order from the bag and framed sentences in her mind.
Rafey put his hand forward to handover the order, while Raji kept looking at him, and immediately turned away.
She took the order, and finally said, “How”
“Excuse me madam”, Rafey said.
“How much? The bill”, RJ said.
“Rs.358 only”, Rafey handed over the printed bill to her.
“Would you mind waiting for 2 minutes”, RJ asked.
“No problem”, Rafey said and looked away. He was struggling a lot to retain his smile and sound courteous.
After more than 4 minutes, Raji appeared, and said, “I have a coupon. Do you accept this?”
“Sure we do. But I’d have to ask you to fill the details behind it. Please.”, Rafey replied respectfully.
“You can come in. Please take a seat. I’ll have to look for a pen”, RJ said, mustering courage to invite Rafey inside.
“No problem, Madam. I’ll wait here. Please take your time”, he said.
“Please have a seat”, she insisted, sounding refined.
Rafey went in and took a seat. RJ disappeared to get a pen. Rafey looked around the living room. Three pictures looked very familiar.
The house where they stayed earlier, a picture where Mrs. Ahuja is holding Raji and walking with her, and the third one, where the Ahuja family is seated in a car – a maroon Maruti Esteem.
Rafey recollected how his father drove this very car, washed it religiously, maintained it, like it belonged to him.
He was getting drawn towards the wall where there were multiple pictures, but most of them he couldn’t make out.
Raji wondered how could she break the ice and get into a conversation she was meaning to get into.
She filled the form and came out to the living room.
Hearing the footsteps, Rafey immediately got up from the seat.
“So here’s the coupon R…Shareeq”, RJ said, immediately balancing her words and saying the name written on Rafey’s badge.
“Thank you Ma’am”, Rafey said.
“I am sorry about the way I behaved the other day, I know you were on time”, RJ began.
Rafey looked up at her and smiled sheepishly.
RJ asked, “What’s your name?”
Rafey panicked. He simply answered “Shareeq. That’s my name”
RJ knew he was lying. She kept looking at him. She maintained her cool, and did not insist on anything.
“Here’s Rs.833. The old bill. I am sorry about it”, RJ said.
“Ma’am. That’s really ok. Thank you very much.”, Rafey said.
RJ smiled. “Thanks… “, she said and sounded as if she’d forgotten the name. “Shareeq”, Rafey added.
Rafey began to leave, as RJ stood there looking at him clearly knowing that he was trying to hide his identity.
“And ma’am you name?”, Rafey took a chance.
“RJ RJ. You must have heard me on Radio One”, Raji said, sounding arrogant and shut the door on his face.

…to be contd…

Onto Chapter 8: Nostalgia

if there were no dreams

  if there were no dreams the permanence would slowly take over and the little escapes into the terrain of subconscious existence would deli...